This recording of an OK2Ask online professional development session from May 2016, opens in Adobe Connect. Transform your classroom activities by learning how to use ThingLink. Engage students and deepen content area knowledge by creating annotated images. Text, audio, and video bring additional context to images for your students. Brainstorm with others how you and your students can use ThingLink in your classroom. Learn a little about the principles of design. We will supply you with an image to upload and the annotations so you can learn to use this fantastic tool. Participants will: 1. Learn how to annotate an image using ThingLink: text, audio, and video; 2. Determine ways in which Thinglink can be used to support instruction; and 3. Create an activity with ThingLink that can be used in class. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

Maintained by a company that sells pool accessories, this collection of links on swimming, swimming pools, and water-related topics helps teach students about being safe around water. Scroll down the page to see resources organized by grade levels and content areas. The links include research articles, videos, lesson plans, worksheets, experiments, activities and games for science, math and history classes. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. You could always view them at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Follow these links for some supplemental materials to enliven lessons that could include water as a recreational resource. Science teachers will find real world applications and information about chemicals. Use interactive boards to show videos and activities as whole group lessons. Have students read articles for informational reading practice. Use the resources for flipped or blended learning links on your class website for individual or small group work.

Create a world language learning plan with the Vocabulary Trainer. Use dropdown boxes to select your native language and a language to learn or practice. Other options include different course levels and options such as business vocabulary. Tools in the program allow you to set up a personalized learning plan, including time set aside for learning and days of the week to practice.

In the Classroom

This site would be very handy in world language classes and when working with ESL/ELL students. Use this site as a learning station or center. Include this site as a resource when students are preparing a project about another culture. If you have students in world language, world cultures, or even language arts classes who need enrichment - send them to this site to learn the basics of a new language or to look for roots that show in English. Self-motivated advanced students or those planning a semester abroad can learn language basics on their own here. Be sure to include this site for "Children of the World Day" or family heritage day activities.

Create a virtual language school with LearnCube. The free version allows for the creation of a virtual classroom of up to six students. Teach using conversation mode or a virtual whiteboard. Personalize your learning space with your own logo and colors. Use the 1GB storage space to upload images, worksheets, or other teaching materials. The free plan also includes up to 10 hours of "live" teaching time each month. Please note that the landing page says this is a 14-day free trial, but under pricing there is a FREE option.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Use LearnCube to offer personalized instruction to small groups of students or homebound students without access to school lessons. Because LearnCube's free plan only allows for classrooms of six students, be creative in using this site for your whole class. Divide students into six groups, each of whom becomes "a student" in your virtual room. If you teach multiple classes, create a common login for each different class to become a student, or use the Gmail workaround, explained here, to set up Gmail subaccounts to use for any online membership service.

This site offers over 450 illustrations specifically created to help with English Language Instruction for foreign language speakers. Browse the collection to find drawings demonstrating emotions, common items, medical terms, and much more. Use the keyword search to focus on particular needs. Select images to download, use the size bar to find the desired image size, and then save to your computer.

In the Classroom

Use this site with ESL/ELL learners to provide visual cues for English language learning. For more advanced learners, use the illustrations as story cues or starters. Have students create their personal learning book by printing images and combining into a notebook. Share a link to this site on your class webpage for parents and students to access at home.

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Langscape is an interactive map of almost 7000 languages from around the world. The site offers three main features: an interactive map, a text identification tool, and a language familiarization...more

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Langscape is an interactive map of almost 7000 languages from around the world. The site offers three main features: an interactive map, a text identification tool, and a language familiarization game. Click on a map location to view a pop-up box with the name or names of languages spoken and location by longitude and latitude. Click on the name of the language to find basic data (underneath the map) about the language and its speakers. Underneath the map, find icons to learn more about the language, choose the music-note to listen to MP3 recordings of the language. The page icon leads to other Internet resources for learning about the language chosen. Be sure to drop down the Discover link at the top of the page to find the K-12 educators guide, a complete guide on how to use the site as well as lessons linked to Social Studies Standards.

In the Classroom

Bookmark Langscape for any lessons about other countries. Locate countries on the map then listen to the audio files of the spoken language. Create a link on classroom computers for students to play the language game. Take advantage of the many lesson ideas found in the educators guide.

BookBoon features over 1000 free ebooks in seven different languages, aimed at the high school and college level. Find an interesting book and type in your email. The books focus on business/economics, engineering/natural sciences, and IT with many being authored by professors. Search for a book or subscribe to the newsletter. Note: The books you download may have advertisements.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Find ebooks available for further study on specialized subjects for your research project, or just to further your knowledge. Use with gifted or advanced students to provide further challenge or self study projects.

Curriculumbits.com offers a free online library with access to multimedia e-learning resources in many subject areas such as biology, chemistry, English, French, German, physics, performing arts, and physical education among others. The menu on the left has links to the subjects and the number of activities you will find. Most of them use Flash. Read reviews to help determine which ones would best meet your needs. Sign up for the newsletter, rank your favorites, or even share on social media.

In the Classroom

Use Curriculumbits.com to enhance the technology in your lessons and capture kids' attention. Use as a model for creating your own videos. Use this tool as an example for students to create videos. Use as a way to review on the subject matter you are currently studying. Discuss the elements needed for creating successful resources. Have our student create videos for summative assessments. Offer gifted students the challenge of synthesizing new knowledge, while you can support differentiation with already made resources, or creating a resource together in a small group. Begin an e-learning school fair at your school, featuring e-learning ideas that students have created. Create a link on your webpage for students to access at home. Share with parents as enrichment to what is happening in your class.

Linguistadores offers language learning through articles, music, and videos. Select your language and reading content level for genuine news based on level and interest. Double click on any word to translate into a language of your choice. Listen to songs in your target language while viewing the lyrics on the screen. Save unknown words to your account with a click then practice with flash card style games. Free accounts offer up to 10 articles and 20 saved words per day.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Use Linguistadores with ESL/ELL or special education students as an interesting way to deliver appropriate leveled informational texts. Have students create individual accounts and use as a computer lab or classroom center activity to build vocabulary and reading skills. Use this site to differentiate for students of all levels. Share this site with your teaching colleagues to help differentiate for learning support (or gifted or ESL/ELL) students. Select informational texts to use for close reading (a la Common Core) together as a class on a projector or interactive whiteboard.

Linugua.ly helps you learn a language by "digital immersion." It is available for beginner through advanced language learners. Import word lists that reflect your interests and Lingua.ly will fill your feed with real articles from the web to fit your pursuits. Use the highlighted words to create flashcards (with auto-pronounce that can be turned on or off), a pronunciation guide, and an excerpt of the online text to put it into context. Choose other words from the articles by double clicking on them. There is a dictionary for over 40 languages (Arabic, Spanish, Hebrew, French, German, Italian, Dutch, and others). Lingua.ly works via the Chrome extension or on any mobile device. Turn the Internet into a language learning tool by signing up for Lingua.ly.

In the Classroom

Use Lingua.ly in world language classes as another form of practice and enrichment. Have world language students use this digital immersion tool to help read and translate authentic text. Have students create an account and enter words. Challenge students to use words from the language they are learning or from their interests and hobbies. For students under 13, create a class account with a class password and create a list of words for students' interests or subjects they are learning in class. For an ELL/ESL classroom, provide extra, specific practice in reading English. For ESL/ELL and resource students mainstreamed in your class, differentiate by offering reading practice geared to their interests. Offer this site as a supplement when you study cultures from around the world. Gifted students are sure to enjoy the challenge of learning some language phrases. Share the link on your teacher web page for students to use as extra practice or study for tests. This tool is perfect for your BYOD or 1:1 class, since it will operate on any device.

This series of podcasts helps intermediate to advanced level ESL/ELL students improve their listening skills, vocabulary, and cultural knowledge. The podcasts feature weekly episodes of daily life and include idioms and slang with broadcasts using the American accent (although Melanie is from Canada). Listeners can use any device to hear the short podcast and can also download it. In each podcast about events in a normal life, you can hear the short Mp3 twice, once at a slow speed and once at normal speed. The vocabulary in the podcasts comes from a 7500 core vocabulary word list and core words used are listed with each podcast. The podcast also lists phrasal verbs and collocations (a combination of two or more words that are commonly used together) for the benefit of listeners. More difficult words are listed and defined.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Assign the weekly podcast as listening homework. Have students create a series of questions to ask each other about it using a tool such as Testmoz reviewed here. Have them do their own podcasts, with video, modeled after the one they listened to. Display the videos on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here.

Use these interactives to learn up to thirteen new languages (English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Lithuanian, and more). Choose from various options: match images to a spoken word, fill in the blanks, or multiple choice. Audio options are available for non-readers. No registration is required. Registration allows you to save your progress and compete to earn the highest scores in each activity.

In the Classroom

Use your interactive whiteboard (or projector) to introduce this site in your world language class, ESL/ELL class, or young elementary classroom. Make a shortcut to Ba Ba Dum on classroom computers for use as a center in a language class or world cultures. Use this tool with young students just learning the English language to build up their vocabulary. The website offers audio options on many of the interactives, making this site ideal for non-readers (even kindergartners). Share this site with your gifted students looking for individual challenge. Why not learn Lithuanian or Chinese? Be sure to share a link to this site on your class website or blog for students (and possibly parents) to use at home. Have cooperative learning groups create online picture or ABC books featuring a different language using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.

The Free Dictionary is much more than a dictionary; it also includes a thesaurus, encyclopedias, a literature reference library, and lots more! Browse the home page to find Word of the Day, Article of the Day, In the News, Quotations, Today's Birthday and Holiday, and Hangman. Choose the Spelling Bee to test spelling skills in levels. Your ESL/ELL students can discover and "play" with English words using this site. Browse to find dictionaries for many other languages and specialized needs such as medical and legal dictionaries.

In the Classroom

Set this site as the home page on classroom computers for students to read and find interesting articles and games. Create an account to customize the page to display information to suit class needs. Use information found on this site for quotes, interesting trivia, and much more. Display on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) and discuss articles and information with your class.

Learn about the fascinating world of bees with this beautiful and comprehensive site. Begin your exploration as you choose from different categories such as What is a Bee?, Pollination, Life in a Hive, or The Beekeper. The entire site is also available in French. Explore each topic as you view images and descriptions of the life of bees. Find the Glossary link near the top of each page to view a selection of vocabulary words and definitions. Be sure to view the Activities page including recipes, crafts, printable activities, and an image gallery.

In the Classroom

Be sure to share this site during any unit on insects or careers. As news stories tell us about the rapid demise of honeybees and the resulting danger to our food supply, step back to see what bees are all about. Allow older students to explore on their own. Younger students will benefit from viewing and reading together on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. Have students use Fakebook (reviewed here) to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about a week in the life of a beekeeper. Use the glossary as a resource for differentiated spelling lists each week. French teachers may want to use this site as a reading experience!

Cosmo Learning aggregates an extensive library of subjects (42 total), courses (thousands to browse), video lectures, documentaries, images, books and other multimedia in dozens of subjects, all from sources all over the world. Their goal is to be a free online school. Subjects range from Anthropology to Entrepreneurship to Political Studies to Veterinarian Medicine. Find specific content using the search feature. You can also search using links to academic subjects or type of materials such as courses, documentaries, videos, or images. Registration isn't required, but allows you to save and rate features on the site. Be warned: there is a LOT to explore at this site! If your district blocks YouTube, videos may not be viewable. You could always view the videos at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid reviewed here to download the videos from YouTube.

In the Classroom

Use materials from Cosmo Learning as part of any unit or lesson plan. Use materials on the site for flipped lessons or share with gifted learners as an enhancement to current course content. Using the flipped classroom format is helpful if YouTube is blocked at your school. Share lessons on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Teachers of gifted can share this with their students whose interests fall outside typical school curriculum to encourage independent study or projects. Provide the link to this site on your class wiki or website for students (and families) to access anytime.

Learn about theater and theater arts in this site about the French-language theater in Canada and beyond. Explore over one hundred and fifty headings divided into six sections, a reading list, and a games section. Investigate theater genres or the history of the theater from Ancient Greece through Theater after World War II until now. Read about major playwrights such as Sophocles, William Shakespeare, Moliere, and many more. Find information on famous directors, great designers, major actors, and theater architecture. Get down to basics by investigating the various aspects of a theater production, specialized vocabulary, and a description of the tasks and trades involved. There are also links and information about professional training for those interested in a theater career. For extra fun, read the site IN French by clicking the link top right.

In the Classroom

Use a projector or interactive whiteboard to present this site to students of drama, English, history, art, or architecture students. Make theater more accessible in your literature class by letting students investigate an aspect of interest to them. History teachers may want to introduce the history of theatre and divide the students into small groups to investigate a specific time period. Have the groups create timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Capzles, reviewed here, to share with the class. Art and design teachers may want to present the sections for design and architecture and then change to the sister site, Arts Alive.ca English Theatre, reviewed here, to learn even more about these theater professions. English and drama teachers could focus on the basics of theater vocabulary, genres, and the various stages of a theater production. Use the French version of this site (click top right) for articles to explore in advanced French classes, perhaps before staging a short play in French.

This special dictionary for language learners has several unique features: definitions, examples, and explanations for natural language words and phrases. It also has constant updates as the "cobuilders" (other contributors) add to it. Read the explanation of the site BEFORE you start to search a word. The larger part of this site also includes tools for Translation, Conjugation, Grammar, and Spell Check (install the Reverso toolbar on your computer). In addition to defining the word or phrase, the dictionary also allows you to click on any blue word or phrase in the definition for more definitions, audio, and sometimes video explanations. There is an option to search for the word in video/text news stories. It pulls up short little blurbs of authentic news stories, some accompanied by video (with the blurb being read) or a picture. Pronunciation is available for all words (click the word, then "speak"). The company that created the site is British, but its dictionary entries include comments on both American and British usage. The site is a collaborative site, so anyone can add new entries. In addition to being useful for any English language learner, there are features available in French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, and Portuguese. You can even set up your own vocabulary lists if you want to use this site as a personalized learning tool. Although we didn't find anything inappropriate at this site, you will want to preview this site before sharing with students.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Before turning students loose on this site, especially if their English is weak, show them how to navigate it on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Make it available for all ELL students. Install the Reverso toolbar on your computer to access the dictionary, translator, conjugator, grammar, and spell-checker. If your school computers are "locked down," ask the techies about installing it on at least one class computer to use for reference. Bookmark the site on classroom computers where any World Language instruction takes place. Use this site in World Language classes to enrich your lessons in French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, and Portuguese. Share this site with families on for use at home.

Practice and learn basic words and vocabulary in Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Czech, and Russian. Imendi is a flash card type activity featuring various languages in a drag and drop format. Choose your language to begin. You can also choose between a random lesson or use the "all words" option. Match new language terms to the English word then quickly view results and start over with a new set of cards. These are quick and easy reviews. Use the non-English speaking option to translate from any included language back to English.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Use this tool with your ESL/ELL students. If you teach world languages, this site is a great review of various languages. Looking for some enrichment for your gifted students? Share this site and help them to learn a new language (or at least several key vocabulary words). Have students compare the words for the same thing across various languages to notice relationships among the languages. Make simple posters of words for different themes, such as foods, in several different languages using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard (reviewed here). Be sure to include this site on your class web page for students to access both in and outside of class for further practice. Have students try out this site on individual computers, or as a learning center.

Iris the Dragon offers children's books to educate young children on mental health and wellness. The site has several FREE, downloadable e-books. There are other materials and offerings advertised on the site, but no purchase is needed to obtain the free e-Books. Topics include ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, School Anxiety, Anger, Worry, and more. A few e-books are also available in French. Fill in the simple form with your name, books desired, and how you plan to use the books. (No email address is necessary, but can be provided if you want email updates from the website.) There is no "wait" period. E-books are available for immediate use.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Download books from Iris the Dragon for use in mental health lessons or to address specific classroom concerns. Use books as a read-aloud and display on your interactive whiteboard or projector during class meetings. Print and laminate books for use in guided reading lessons. Share this site on your class website for students (and parents) to read together at home.

Next Vista offers Learning videos for teachers looking for alternatives to YouTube. At the time of this review, they offered over 1,000 videos (most useful for in the classroom). Videos are made by teachers and/or students. Search by three main topics: Light Bulbs, Global View, or Seeing Service. Better yet, use the right sidebar to search by topic: Math, Science, World Languages, History & Culture, Performing Arts, and more.Next Vista offers an extensive collection of career videos to use as a resource for exploring and discovering career opportunities. View videos directly on site or share using the link or embed code provided. Throughout the school year, Next Vista hosts video creation contests for students and teachers. Submit your own videos less than 5 minutes in length using directions provided. They even offer small prizes for winners.

In the Classroom

Explore the various topics to share with your students. In the math section, share the "How to Show Your Work" video on your projector or interactive whiteboard. There are useful videos in all sections, offered at a variety of levels. Bookmark and save this site for use throughout the year for student and teacher created videos. Challenge students to create a video to submit for one of the site's contests; who knows, they may win!